Sir Paul. Ay, but by your own Virtue and Continency that matter of Fact is all his own doing.

I confess I had a great Defire to have fome Honours conferr'd upon me, which lie all in your Ladyship's Breaft, and he being a well-fpoken Man, I defired him to intercede for me.

I. P. Did you fo, Prefumption! Oh! he comes, the Tarquin comes; I cannot bear his Sight.

Care. Sir Paul, I'm glad I've met with you, 'gad I have faid all I could, but can't prevail

Then my

Friendship to you has carry'd me a little farther in this Matter

Sir Paul. Indeed Well Sir I'll diffemble with him a little.

[Afide. Care. Why faith I have in my Time known honeft Gentlemen abused by a pretended Coyness in their Wives, and I had a mind to try my Lady's Virtue And when I could not prevail for you, 'gad I pretended to be in love my felf. but all in vain, she would not hear a Word upon that Subject: Then I writ a Letter to her; I don't know what Effects that will have, but I'll be fure to tell you when I do, tho' by this Light I believe her Virtue is impregnable.

Sir Paul. O Providence! Providence! What Discoveries are here made? Why, this is better and more miraculous than the reft.

Care. What do you mean?

Sir Paul. I can't tell you, I'm fo overjoy'd; come along with me to my Lady, I can't contain my felf; come, my dear Friend.

Care. So, fo, fe, this Difficulty's over.

[Afide. SCENE

SCENE XII.

Mellefont, Maskwell, from different Doors.

Mel. Maskwell! I have been looking for you. 'tis within a Quarter of Eight.

Mask. My Lady is juft gone into my Lord's Closet, you had belt fleal into her Chamber before fhe comes, and lie concealed there, otherwife fhe may lock the Door when we are together, and you not eafily get in to furprize us.

Mel. He! You fay true.

Mask. You had beft make hafte, for after fhe has made fome Apology to the Company for her own, and my Lord's Abfence all this while, fhe'll retire to her Chamber inftantly.

Mel. I go this Moment: Now Fortune I defy thee.

Mask. I confefs you may be allowed to be fecure in your own Opinion; the Appearance is very fair, but I have an After-Game to play that fhall turn the Tables, and here comes the Man that I muft manage,

Ld. T. Maskwell, you are the Man I wish'd to meet. Mask. I am happy to be in the way of your Lordship's Commands.

Ld. T. I have always found you prudent and careful in any thing that has concern'd me or my Family.

Mask. I were a Villain elfe—I am bound by Duty and Gratitude, and my own Inclination, to be ever your Lordhip's Servant.

Ld. T. Enough

-You are my Friend; I knew it. Yet there has been a thing in your Knowledge, which has concern'd me nearly, that you have conceal'd from me. Mask. My Lord!

Ld. T. Nay, I excufe your Friendship to my unnatural Nephew thus far—But I know you have been privy to his impious Designs upon my Wife. This Ev'ning fhe has told me all: Her Good-nature conceal'd it as long as was poffible; but he perfeveres fo in Villany, that she has told me even you were weary of diffuading him, though you have once actually hindered him from forcing her.

Mask. I am forry, my Lord, I can't make you an Anfwer; this is an Occafion in which I would not willingly be filent.

Ld. T. I know you would excuse him as well that you can't.

And I know

Mask. Indeed I was in Hopes t'had been a youthful Heat that might have soon boil'd over; but

Ld. T. Say on.

Mask. I have nothing more to fay, my Lord

But

to exprefs my Concern; for I think his Frenzy increases

daily.

Ld. F.

Ld. T. How! Give me but Proof of it, Ocular Proof, that I may justify my Dealing with him to the World, and fhare my Fortunes.

Mask. O my Lord ! confider that is hard: Befides, Time may work upon him: Then, for me to do it! I have profefs'd an everlasting Friendship to him.

Ld. T. He is your Friend, and what am I ?

Mask. I am answered.

Ld. T. Fear not his Displeasure; I will put you out of his, and Fortune's Power, and for that thou art fcrupulously honest, I will secure thy Fidelity to him, and give my Honour never to own any Discovery that you shall make me. Can you give me a demonftrative Proof?

Speak.

Mask. I wish I could not-To be plain, my Lord, I intended this Ev'ning to have try'd all Arguments to dif fuade him from a Defign, which I suspect; and if I had not fucceeded, to have informed your Lordship of what I knew.

Ld. T. I thank you. What is the Villain's Purpose ? Mask. He has own'd nothing to me of late, and what I mean now, is only a bare Sufpicion of my own. If your Lordship will meet me a Quarter of an Hour hence there, in that Lobby by my Lady's Bed-Chamber, I fhall be able to tell you more.

Ld. T. I will.

Mask. My Duty to your Lordship makes me do a feë vere Piece of Juftice.

Ld. T. I will be fecret, and reward your Honesty be yond your Hopes.

SCENE XV.

SCENE opening, fhews Lady Touchwood's Chamber.

Mellefont Solus.

Mel. Pray Heav'n my Aunt keep touch with her Affignation. -Oh that her Lord were but sweating behind this Hanging, with the Expectation of what I fhall feeHift, fhe comes Little does fhe think what a Mine is juft ready to spring under her Feet. But to my Poft. [Goes behind the Hangings

--

SCENE XVI.

Lady Touchwood.

L. T. Tis Eight a Clock: Methinks I fhould have found him here. Who does not prevent the Hour of Love, out ftays the Time; for to be dully punctual, is too flow. I was accufing you of Neglect.

SCENE XVII.

Lady Touchwood, Maskwell.
Mellefont abfconding.

Mask. I confefs you do reproach me when I fee you here before me; but 'tis fit I should be still behind-hand, ftill to be more and more indebted to your Goodness.

L. T. You can excufe a Fault too well, not to have been to blame-A ready Answer fhews you were prepar'd.

Mask.